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Safe Routes to School supporters:
Our friends with several bicycling and
walking organizations have shared a critical call to action. On
September 16, Senators Coburn of Oklahoma and McCain of Arizona plan to
offer amendments to the transportation appropriations bill that would
eliminate funding for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure-including
Transportation Enhancements and possibly other programs like Safe Routes to
School.
Below you will find the call to action
from the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. If you follow the link to their
website, you will find sample talking points, a link to your Senators'
phone numbers, and a form to report the response from your Senators.
The vote is likely to be September 16 -so we encourage you to contact your
Senators as soon as possible.
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Your voice is urgently
needed! The U.S.
Senate is scheduled to vote on eliminating walking and biking funds
tomorrow, September 16.
Today, Senators John McCain (Ariz.) and
Tom Coburn (Okla.)
issued two amendments to the FY10 Transportation, Housing and Urban
Development appropriations bill. If
passed, these amendments would eliminate the majority of available federal funds
for trails, walking and bicycling.
Amendment 2370 would prohibit the use of federal funds for pedestrian or
bicycle facilities, efforts to reduce vehicle collisions with wildlife,
or other specified Transportation Enhancement (TE) projects if the Highway
Trust Fund cannot cover unfunded highway authorizations.
Amendment 2371 would allow states to eliminate spending on TE, the nation's
largest funding source for trails, walking and bicycling. Congress
currently sets aside a portion of federal funds for TE to support these
projects in all states.
Providing opportunities for Americans to walk, bike and take transit to get
where they're going improves our communities' health and livability,
reduces emissions, creates jobs and save money.
Please act now-call your senator and ask
him or her to vote against the proposed amendments.
Learn how on the Rails-to-Trails
Conservancy website.
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